Haku

Forest regenaration

Forest regeneration is one of the most important stages in forest cultivation. Its aim is to produce a good-yield seedling stand in the area of the growing stock removed in a regeneration felling. The Finnish Forest Act obligates forest owners to regenerate their forest after a regeneration felling. In terms of profitable forestry, the forest regeneration process should be initiated as quickly as possible after the regeneration felling.

Successful forest regeneration requires selecting the tree species that are best suited for the site concerned. All the economically most important forest tree species in Finland are primarily regenerated through artificial forest regeneration. It provides the best opportunities to fully utilise, for example, the improved tree growth rate and quality achieved through forest tree breeding.

The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) develops various quality control methods together with forestry operators to support the practical operations related to forest regeneration. An important research theme related to the development of new forest regeneration techniques is the prediction and reduction of forest damage. The aim is also to enhance cost-efficiency, for example, by developing new seedling types and planting techniques.

Research results published by Luke are available for use by service providers and forest owners alike. They also help forest regeneration service providers to improve the quality of their work and to produce high-yield seedling stands for their customers in a cost-efficient manner. Luke also develops various quality control methods together with forestry operators to support the practical operations related to forest regeneration. New and improved regeneration techniques help forest owners to quickly convert their forests back to being productive after a regeneration felling.